Greenland Dominates Davos: Leaders Warn Ukraine Must Remain Top Security Priority

January 22 ------ What began as a peripheral issue exploded into a strategic confrontation over Greenland this week, transforming the mood in Davos and threatening to overshadow the war in Ukraine. While US President Donald Trump’s statements on Greenland dominated headlines and panel debates, officials from NATO and Kyiv repeatedly warned that the shift in attention risks playing directly into Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s hands.

Greenland shock resets the Davos agenda

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters in Davos that the Trump administration expects allies to understand that “Greenland needs to be a part of the United States.” He reminded journalists that the US had purchased the US Virgin Islands from Denmark during World War I, adding, “I will remind everyone that Denmark remained neutral during World War I. They actually sold quite a bit [of land] to the Germans.” The remarks triggered strong reactions among European and Canadian officials, who warned that the issue risked undermining transatlantic unity.

Macron: “A world without rules”

French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the global system was sliding toward instability, describing an era in which international law was being “trampled” and replaced by raw power. “It’s clearly a very concerning time,” Macron said, pointing to what he described as an increasingly aggressive Trump foreign policy. Macron added that trade agreements imposed under the threat of tariffs:

“Undermine our export interests, demand maximum concessions and openly aim to weaken and subordinate Europe.” “We need more stability in this world, but we do prefer respect to bullies,” Macron said. “Having a place like Europe, which sometimes is too slow, and needs to be reformed but which is predictable, loyal, and where you know that the rule of the game is just the rule of law, it’s a good place.”

Nordic and other EU voices push back

Sweden’s Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson called White House pressure over Greenland “sad and totally absurd.” “We have an American president who is blackmailing the rest of us, trying to get a piece of land or buy it through threats. It’s a new low.” Svantesson said.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde questioned whether Washington’s behavior was compatible with alliance politics. “When you are allies under the North Atlantic Treaty, when you have been allies for decades… threatening to seize territory that is clearly not for sale, such as Greenland, is not really behaving like an ally,” Lagarde said.

NATO: Ukraine cannot be sidelined

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged that the alliance was working behind the scenes to manage tensions over Greenland but stressed that the issue must not divert attention from Ukraine. “You can be assured that I’m working on this issue behind the scenes, but I cannot do it in public,” Rutte said. He warned against complacency on Ukraine: “The focus on Ukraine should be the number one priority. It is crucial for European and US security.” “If we Europeans here in NATO think that because of the €90B [$106B], or because a peace process seems to be moving in the right direction, we can forget about the defense of Ukraine – don’t. They need our support now, tomorrow, and the day after.”

Notably, former NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen, speaking to AFP on Tuesday, described the Greenland controversy as a strategic distraction. “Everybody’s now talking about Greenland, which is not a real threat to North Atlantic security,” Rasmussen said. “Russia’s attack against Ukraine is the real threat, and attention should not be distracted from this.”

Source: kyivpost.com